The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-09-08

An
OVER THE FIELD OF MANASSAS.
A South Carolinian's Visit to the Old Bat
tie Ground.
MANASSAS, VA, Aug. s. 1887 What
was known as "Manassas Junction" du-
ring the war, is now called Manassas
beautiful little town of about 700 people,
and 80 miles from Washington City. A
large hotel stands near the depot filled
with summer visitors from Washington,
Baltimore and other large cities. Many
families from Washington spend their
summers here-the heads of the families
remaining in the city during the week
and spending their Sundays out here
being only an hours ride. The houses
are painted with considerable taste, (no
whitewash here) and many of the build.
ings and situations are handsome. The
high hill upon which our regiment
biyouaeed in 1852, is now the magnif-
cent summer residence of rich brewer
of Alexandra, Va. There are still here
few remaining signs of our army when
it was the headquarters of Beauregard in
1851. Many of the old earth works still
remain; the large works called aFort
Beauregard" now standing in the beauti.
full grounds Of the rich brewer men.
toned above.
About half a mile off is an unfinished
cemetery, where many Confederate
soldiers are buried. The citizens under
took to enclose and beautify the spot
with their own means, but had to stop
for want of funds. The ground is partly
enclosed with a large walk of red free
stone, but has never been finished. The
graves have had wooden head and foot
boards, but they are nearly all now scat
tered over the ground-the most of them
being marked unknown" Among
those still standing I noticed the names
of s. d. Jones, company I, Bird S. O.
vols; N. w. Gambry Tor Gamble) COM
pany E, Hampton legion; VIM. Corbin,
4th s. o. "; w. A. Lacose, 9th S. Q.
".
The citizens are making efforts to-
fniuh the cemetery and remove all the
soldiers, who now lie scattered over this
section Of country, into this enclosure,
and place q large monument in the CEN
ter, With the coat of arms Of each State
represented by the dead. The State of
Virginia has denoted one thousand dol.
lars towards the fund, and application
will be made to each Of the States for a
contribution. know that our. patriotic
representative, Col. Miller, will give this
matter his best attention at the proper
time. There is no better place for such
a cemetery than onithe famous spot. 1t
was here that South Carolina shed her
! first blood in defense Of the "Lost
Cause and the bones Of many of
her sons are scattered over these plains;
Here she should erect shaft to their
memory it would at least be some con-
ISOLATION to the hearts that are yet bleed.
ing for their loved ones, and show that
the State had, mot forgotten the devotion
with which they yielded their lives.
It's the belief of many, that the bat.
tle6elds of Manassas are here at the
junction, but it is mistake. The scene
of these battles is about7 miles from the
Junction and idl atnortherly direction.
Taking the train Of the Manassas Gap
Railroad we left it's miles out at station
called Wellington. From here we went
to the farm house of Mr.. Thomas Leach
man, Virginian of the Golden time,,",
With whose interesting family We spent
three very pleasant days. Ihaye read of
the old time Virginia hospitality, but
have never before enjoyed the ''true in
wardness" Of it. Just imagine cold
mint julep rendered you in the morning,
and then set down to a breakfast, nearly
every dish of which was raised upon the
farm! Mr.. Leachman was q guide to
our army, and it was he who carried Gen.
S. d. Lees artillery to the Douglas
Hill, from which point his guns threw
such destruction into the advancing col
umns of the enemy in the Saturdays
fight Of August 3oth, 1862. Starting out
upon the battle ground, we first stopped
upon the hill at Groveton, from which
point I at once recognized the woods
where onr regiment had slept on the
night of the Groveton fight. On a hill
near the Gainesville and Centreville
pike is iburying ground containing
many Confederate graves. There is only
one grave which is marked in any man
ner and that being South Carolinian, I
copied from the large marble head stone
his name: James Jernar Palmer, son of
DR.. Jamess. Palmer, of Charleston, S.
q.
There isSan. iron urn upon the grave
half filed with earth, and no doubt at
one time contained flowers. The grave
is yet in fair preservation, the stones not
having been hacked by relic.seekers, es
many such stones are.
I Following the Ludley road, we entered
the woods aud came to the very spot
occupied by Gregg's brigade in its strug-
gle on Friday, Aug. 29th, 1862. There
vas the old railroad cut, over which we